Health is not valued until sickness comes

Sadly my attempt to post daily has not had much success so far. Blame the old trigeminal nerve pains in my face and/or occipital pains behind my eyes. That said, I continue reading because the book I’m in love with right now is regarding psychology, good old Dr. Sigmund Freud and philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. It’s hard to put the book down but at times I need to be mindful of the aches and pains so they don’t get any worse. And that means that I am not blogging as much as I want to.

My fingers are itching to write a longer blog post, yet my eyes are not quite happy about staring at a laptop screen for too long. However, that itch is always there and like my dad used to say: “You’re itchy yet your arms are too short to scratch.” He had a way with words and I miss hearing him use his eloquent vocabulary to make people laugh.

But yes, sometimes my “arms” are too short to make the itch go away, or rather, my body makes me decide negatively on things I want to do but can’t (for now) because of neurological pains. But whatever the pains, fatigue and inability to work, I am alive, and I want to live and be free more than anything.

In that regard I came across the Epicurus maxim “Where I am, death is not. Where death is, I am not.”(When we exist death is not, and when death exists we are not). If I were to cite a poem about what drives me, or what I’m like or who I am, I would more than likely choose Schweitzer’s and Epicurus’ poems. Or like George Bernard Shaw once said: “I enjoy convalescence. It is the part that makes the illness worthwhile.”

What is this website about?

Quirky, tenacious and neurologically compromised expat writing about life with multiple sclerosis.

Diagnosed 2,5 years after moving to Ireland, Willeke is engaged in advocacy efforts in support of improved disability and neurological services in Ireland, while also hoping to change people's perception about invisible illnesses like MS.

By highlighting difficult issues that come with the diagnosis of a chronic, neurodegenerative illness, she hopes her tenacity can bring dignity to people most in need of a modern, inclusive healthcare system and society, which looks after every aspect of life.

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About Willeke

Neurologically challenged by MS and personally by her will to succeed, Willeke is a disability awareness advocate seeking to improve neurological/MS services in Ireland.

By highlighting difficult issues that come with such a diagnosis, she hopes her tenacity can bring some dignity to people most in need of a modern, inclusive healthcare system that looks after every aspect of life.